premise

[prem-is]

noun

1. Logic.,  Also premiss. a proposition supporting or helping to support a conclusion.

   Synonyms: postulate, assumption

2. premises,

   1. a tract of land including its buildings.

   2. a building together with its grounds or other appurtenances.

   3. the property forming the subject of a conveyance or bequest.

3. Law.

   1. a basis, stated or assumed, on which reasoning proceeds.

   2. an earlier statement in a document.

   3. (in a bill in equity) the statement of facts upon which the complaint is based.

verb (used with object)

premised, premising 

1. to set forth beforehand, as by way of introduction or explanation.

2. to assume, either explicitly or implicitly, (a proposition) as a premise for a conclusion.

   Synonyms: hypothesize, postulate

verb (used without object)

premised, premising 

1. to state or assume a premise.

premise

noun

1. Also: premiss. logic a statement that is assumed to be true for the purpose of an argument from which a conclusion is drawn

verb

1. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to state or assume (a proposition) as a premise in an argument, theory, etc

Other Word Forms

• repremise verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of premise¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English premiss, from Medieval Latin praemissa, noun use of feminine of Latin praemissus, past participle of praemittere “to send before,” equivalent to prae- “before, in front, ahead,” + mittere “to send”; pre-

Word History and Origins

Origin of premise¹

C14: from Old French prémisse, from Medieval Latin praemissa sent on before, from Latin praemittere to dispatch in advance, from prae before + mittere to send

Example Sentences

Police swept the premises at the hospital just after 7 a.m. after receiving a 911 call reporting a shooting, according to a department spokesperson.

From Los Angeles Times

He added they regularly received phone calls from the school to say the girl had locked herself in the bathroom or left the premises.

From BBC

It is the first case in a commercial premises in Northern Ireland since February.

From BBC

CST urged everyone attending synagogues or any other Jewish premises to follow all instructions from security guards and police officers.

From BBC

In a statement, the Danish government said its tax authority "strongly disagrees with the premises of the judgment and is now seeking to appeal it".

From BBC

Related Words

• assertion 
• assumption 
• basis 
• ground 
• presumption 
• proposition 
• thesis